On Tuesday, in a statement Sony Corp said, it would commence the testing of self-driving cars later this year as it prepares to beef up its sensing and safety technologies.

Sony disclosure comes at a time when it has unveiled its electric concept car which is embeded with 33 sensors, including solid state light detection and ranging (Lidar) and image sensors, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Sony’s concept car, developed with the help of Bosch, Continental and other partners, also incorporates its spatial audio technology.

Sony is aiming to start test rides in April, in the coming financial year, to check the performance of its auto- related technologies, said its spokesman while adding that Sony has no plans to produce its own cars.

While Sony is a dominant player in the smartphone image sensors market, it is playing catch up in the sensors for automotive applications, with ON Semiconductor Corp.

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that mobile has been the mega-trend of the last decade,” said Sony Chief Executive Officer Kenichiro Yoshida said at a CES press conference. “I believe the next megatrend will be mobility.”